Antic: The Atari Resource (January 1985)

Antic was one of the most popular Atari 8-bit magazines. While primarily covering the Atari 8-bit, it also covered the 16-bit Atari ST once it came along. The January 1985 issue includes:

Antic: The Atari Resource (January 1985)

Compute! (December 1981)

Compute! was one of the earliest home computer magazines. Early in its history, it focused on 6502 based machines. In 1981 that meant the Commodore CBM/PET, Apple II, Atari and OSI. The December 1981 issue includes:

Compute! (December 1981)

Compute! (October 1981)

Compute! (October 1981)

Compute! is a home computer magazine that got its start all the way back in 1979. Later on, it tended to be less technical than something like Byte but by today's standards, all computer magazines were somewhat technical when this issue was published in October 1981. At the time, Compute! covered computers based on the 6502 processors such as the Commodore PET, Apple II, Atari 400/800, VIC-20 and others. This issue includes:

Columns

• The Editor's Notes - Atari reduces prices in the wake of the introduction of the VIC-20 (they would ultimately lose the price war later on vs. the Commodore 64), IBM enters the personal computer market, Atari wins school contract in Minnesota, and more.


• Computers and Society - Appropriate applications for home computers.


• Readers Feedback - A commentary on the maturing of the computer industry and Computer Aided Instruction.


• Ask the Readers - A question answered about the Apple II and TV interference and questions asked about video terminal options for an OSI computer, the 3040 Floppy Disk Unit for the PET, and more.


• Basically Useful BASIC: Automatic DATA Statements For CBM and Atari - A type-in program that converts machine language code into BASIC DATA statements.


• The Beginner's Page - Organizing and processing data with computers.


• VIC-20 News - The latest released for the new VIC-20 including the VIC Graphics Printer from Axiom, a new disk drive (this would become the 1540), various memory expansion cartridges, an RS-232 adapter for connecting a modem, plus lots of software including Blackjack, Slither/Superslither, Biorhythm Compatibility, Space Math, Car Chase, Blue Meanies from outer Space, Programmer's Aid (adds new BASIC commands), and more.

The Apple Gazette

• Budgeting On the Apple - A type in program for the Apple II that helps with budgeting tasks.


• Named GOSUBs - A machine language routine that allows you to use named GOSUBs (instead of just line numbers) in BASIC programs.


• A Tape "EXEC" For Applesoft: Loading Machine Language Programs Part II - A program that allows you to load both a BASIC program and ML routines it uses from tape.

_{Table of Contents from the October 1981 issue of Compute!}

The Atari Gazette

• Cassette Boot-Tape Generation From DOS 2.0S Binary Load File - A technique for creating a bootable tape on the Atari 400/800.


• Beware The RAMTOP Dragon - A technique for creating protected memory areas...especially from Atari's memory management.


• Documented Atari Bugs - A detailed description of bugs in Atari OS and BASIC software.


• Graph It On The Atari - A type in program for creating plots and graphs.


• Extending Player Missile Graphics - A machine language program for enhancing the capabilities of Atari's Player Missile Graphics (sprites).


• Atari 400/800 Variable Name Utility - A type in program that will display the contents of the variable name table which lets you know which variable names are already in use.

The Pet Gazette

• Practical Pet Printing Primer for Perplexed Programmers - A type-in program that helps you to print out program listings in a reasonable format.


• Odds And Ends: A Fat Forty Bug - Illustration of a bug that sometimes occurs when running BASIC 4.0 programs on a PET with 12-inch screens that was originally written for 4-inch screens.


• Machine Language: What's Your Sign? - Using signed vs. unsigned numbers.


• Train Your Pet To Run VIC Programs - A technique for getting VIC BASIC programs to run on the PET.


• Converting To Fat-40 - A tutorial for converting programs written for 9/10-inch PET 4032 to the 12-inch 40-column PET 4032.


• High Resolution Bar Graphs For The Pet - A type-in program for creating bar graphs on the PET

The SBC Gazette

• AIM 65 BASIC Floating Point Arithmetic From Machine Language - How to use floating point numbers on the SBC.


• A General Purpose BCD-To-Binary Routine - A type-in program that will convert a BCD number with any number of digits to a binary number.

_{Back cover of the October 1981 issue of Compute!}

Read more: https://www.megalextoria.com/wordpress/index.php/2024/01/03/compute-october-1981/

ANALOG Computing (September 1983)

ANALOG Computing (September 1983)

ANALOG Computing was probably the most popular and longest running magazine for Atari 8-bit computers in the U.S. The September 1983 issue includes:

Features/Articles

• The New ATARI Peripherals - The 1983 Summer CES was a pretty big event for Atari. New products announced or show there include the 600XL, 800XL, 1400XL, and 1450XLD computers. In addition, there were numerous new peripherals including three different printers, the 1050 Disk Drive, 1030 Direct Connect Modem (300 baud), CX77 Touch Tablet, CX80 Trackball, Atari CP/M Module, and lots more.


• ATARI Graph - A cryptographic puzzle.


• Fine Scrolling - Part one of a tutorial on scrolling on the Atari 8-bit including programming examples and a discussion of what various games do, including Defender, Caverns of Mars and Eastern Front.

Reviews/Profiles

• Family Cash Flow - Software for keeping track of your money.


• Electronic Arts/Games Review - Reviews of several Electronic Arts games including Archon, M.U.L.E., Pinball Construction Set, and Worms?


• Donkey Kong - A conversion of the arcade classic on cartridge.


• Pole Position - Another arcade conversion on cartridge. I got really good at this game on the Commodore 64.


• Dark Crystal - A graphics adventure game based on the movie of the same name.

_{Table of Contents from the September 1983 issue of ANALOG Computing}

Program Listings

• Observational Astronomy - A type-in program that allows you to enter your latitude and longitude as well as the date and it will tell you what objects are in the night sky.


• Livewire Paddle Default - A modification to a previous type-in game that sets the paddle controllers as the default instead of the joystick.


• Roundup - A type-in game in which you must herd and lasso cattle.

Columns

• Editorial - Alan Alda's endorsement deal with Atari and crediting programmers for their work.


• Reader Comment - Letters from readers regarding hardware add-ons, the San Diego Computer Society Computer Fair, software piracy, and more.


• New Products - A look at new products including Blue Max, Zaxxon, Dimension X, Drelbs, Shadow World, Rainbow Walker, Wavy Navy, The Dark Crystal, Mr. Cool, Moon Shuttle, Pooyan, Satan's Hollow, Lord of the Rings, Operation Whirlwind, Silicon Warrior, Gateway to Apshai, Jumpman Jr., River Raid, and lots more.


• Our Game - A column on game design in which reader ideas are explored.

_{Back cover of the September 1983 issue of ANALOG Computing}

Read more: https://www.megalextoria.com/wordpress/index.php/2023/08/27/analog-computing-september-1983/

Antic (September 1983)

Antic (September 1983)

Compute! (April 1983)

Compute! (April 1983)

Compute! was one of the most popular multi-format computer magazines of the 1980s. It covered mostly the popular 8-bit home computers of the time including the VIC-20, Commodore 64, TRS-80 Color Computer, Apple II, Atari 400/800, TI-99/4A, etc. Compute! also produced the very popular Commodore specific Compute!'s Gazette and a number of other computer specific publications. At more than 288 pages, the April 1983 issue of Compute! had a LOT in it, including:

Features

• Selecting The Right Word Processor - An overview of what a word processor is and what features you should look for. Some of these features include things like Block Move, Headers/Footers and Page-Numbering among other things. There are no actual product reviews in this article.


• Air Defense - A type in program for a game similar to Missile Command. It is in BASIC and was designed to work with the VIC-20, Atari 400/800, TRS-80 Color Computer, Apple II, TI-99/4A, and PET/CBM.


• VIC Editype: A Text Editing And Storage Program - A type-in program for the VIC-20. VIC Editype is basically a mini word processing program. Word processing seems to be the theme in this month's issue.


• Scriptor: An Atari Word Processor - A somewhat more advanced type-in word processor for the Atari 400/800 written in both BASIC and machine language.

Education and Recreation

• Typing Teacher - A type-in program to (ironically) teach you typing. Basically it measures your character speed and word speed by presenting random characters for you to type. There are versions here for the Atari 400/800, VIC-20, TI-99/4A and Apple II.


• Chutes for Atari - A type in program for the Atari 400/800 that uses 3D graphics or what passed for them then. It reminds me of a very, very primitive Star Fox.


• Cash Flow Manager - This article consists of instructions to create a monthly cash report and forecast spreadsheet that can be printed in VisiCalc.


• TI-99 Match-Em - A type-in program for the TI-99/4A for a matching game. This is one of those games where you have to select a square to see what is under it and then guess (or remember) where its match is. Milton Bradley produced a board game version creatively titled "Memory" that was a popular kids game in the 1980s but there have been endless variations.

Reviews

• VIC-20/C64 World Processor: The Quick Brown Fox - A very simple and easy to use word processor for the VIC-20 and Commodore 64 that came in cartridge format.


• Atari Data Perfect - A database program for the Atari 400/800 described as the most powerful yet for that computer. It was compatible with Letter Perfect (a word processor) making it easy to generate form letters and various record formats.


• VIC Practi-Calc - Essentially a much cheaper version of VisiCalc but for the VIC-20 and with fewer features.


• Paperclip Word Processor For PET/CBM - The PET/CBM were more business oriented but this was a popular word processor that was ported to several other computers.


• ZX-81 Home Computer Package For Sinclair/Timex - A package of four programs for the ZX-81/TS-1000. It includes titles that are mostly self explanatory including Etch-A-Screen, Music Composer, Checkbook Balancer and Billboard (scrolls messages across the screen).

_{Table of Contents from the April 1983 issue of Compute!}

Columns and Departments

• The Editor's Notes - This month's editorial discusses the rapidly falling prices of computers.


• Readers' Feedback - Questions and comments from readers about using a TV as a monitor, incompatibilities with Atari's "Revision B" of their OS, and translating programs to the TI-99/4A among other things.


• The Beginner's Page - A column for computer beginners, this month starting a series discussing the various categories of software (music and graphics are covered here).


• Computers And Society - The best and worst of the Winter CES. The worst was the introduction of x-rated software including games for the Atari 2600, the best (at least according to this article) were games with unique goals. One example given is Choplifter in which you get points for rescuing people as opposed to blowing things up.


• Questions Beginners Ask - Questions answered about typing in programs and the differences between a TV and a monitor among other topics.


• Micros With The Handicapped: Developing A Communications Program - Yes, "handicapped" was the politically correct term then even if it isn't now. Anyway, this is part 4 of a continuing series with type-in programs included for making communication easier.


• Machine Language: Numeric Input, Part II - The second part of a Jim Butterfield article on inputing decimal numbers with machine language programs.


• The World Inside the Computer: Children, Computers, And Values - An article that contemplates a child becoming friends with a computer.

The Journal

• Dr. Video - A type-in program for adding additional capabilities to the screen editing abilities of the PET/CBM including the ability to clear the screen above or below the cursor and sending the cursor "home" (to the bottom left of the screen).


• Atari Filefixer - A type-in program that serves as a tool for editing data files for machine language programs. At least that's what I think it is for.


• Using the Atari Word Processor With An Epson Printer - This article describes how to add Epson MX-80 compatibility to the Atari World Processor.


• Commodore 64 Video - A Guided Tour, Part III - Part 3 of a Jim Butterfield series on the Commodore 64's video capabilities. This one discusses creating and moving sprites.


• Update On Sinclair/Times Sound - An update and fixes to a previously published sound program for the Timex 1000/Sinclair ZX-81.


• Computer Literacy And The Three R's On The Sinclair/Timex - A series of small type-in programs for the Timex/Sinclair that teach some simple computer literacy and math.


• Center The VIC Screen - Apparently the VIC-20 screen would sometimes not be centered when displayed on a TV. This small program helps you to center the screen and can be added to your own programs.


• Applesoft Printer Control - This is a type-in program for making the selection printer mode (typeface, etc.) simpler.


• Video 80: 80 Columns For The Atari - By default, the Atari 8-bit computers could only display 40 columns of text. This is a type-in program that works as a software solution to increase that to 80. This doesn't actually increase resolution so the quality won't be as good as a hardware solution but it was still quite useful.


• VICword - A type-in program that gives you shortcuts for 52 BASIC commands. For example, it lets you hold down SHIFT and press 'L' to type LOAD instead of having to type the whole command.


• CRAB (Cross Reference For Atari BASIC) - A very short type-in utility that will print a list of all the variable used in a given BASIC program and on which line numbers they appear on.


• Programming Characters On An Expanded VIC-20 - Defining and using a custom character set on the VIC-20. Memory expansion is needed.


• Magic Commodore BASIC - BASIC programming tricks for the PET/CBM, VIC-20 and Commodore 64, including invisible lines, backward line numbers, highlighting REM statements and more.


• Rainbow Atari Graphics - Various techniques for using colors in games on Atari 8-bit computers.


• VIC Automatic BASIC - A type-in program for creating text animation and prompts that can be used in your own programs.
• Tester - A simple program for the TRS-80 that can be used for testing. Essentially, it asks a series of questions and gives multiple choice answers then grades you. It can easily modified with your own questions.


• Estimating TI-99 Memory - Memory was highly constrained in old 8-bit computers and it was easy to run out of it. This article gives you some techniques to estimate the array sizes you can use.

Read more: https://www.megalextoria.com/wordpress/index.php/2022/01/04/compute-april-1983/

Adventure International (Atari 400/800/1200)

Adventure International (Atari 400/800/1200)

Page 6 (February/March 1983)

Page 6 (February/March 1983)

The Atari 8-bit line wasn't terribly popular in the U.K. (though the Atari ST would be) but it still managed a few dedicated magazines there. Page 6 is one of those. It was published from December 1982 until Autumn 1998 by which time it had been renamed to New Atari User. The February/March 1983 issue includes:

• Editorial
• News
• Letters
• Four In A Row
• Joysticks
• GTIA - Tutorial
• Feature Review - Astro Chase
• Silly Circles
• Play Your Cards
• GTIA Text Window
• Reviews
• Disk Directory
• Tiny Text
• Getting Started
• First Steps
• Club Call

...and more!

Computer Palace (Atari 8-bit)

Computer Palace (Atari 8-bit)



I used to love ads like this. I could make whole Christmas lists out of one of these ads. Granted, I had a Commodore 64 and this particular one is for Atari 8-bit computer stuff but I always wanted one of those too.

It's fun to play with the numbers too. I see that ten single sided 5.25" disks could be had for the low, low price of $15.95. That's 1985 dollars so today that would be at least $20...probably closer to double but for simplicity's sake I'll say $20. That's about what you can get a spindle of 50 blank DVDs for today. Actually, if you went for the cheapest you could find you could probably get 100 for that much...

So let's see, 1 single sided 5.25" floppy disk for the Atari could hold a whopping 90 KB of data. That means it would take more than 52,222 floppies to hold what 1 DVD can hold. So a spindle of 50 would be equivalent to more than 2.6 million floppies. That's more than 260,000 ten packs of floppies...times $20 would be more than $5.2 million...but I'm sure you could get a bulk discount...

This particular ad is from the February 1985 issue of Antic, a magazine for Atari computers.

ANALOG Computing (October 1984)

ANALOG Computing (October 1984)



ANALOG Computing was perhaps the most popular Atari 8-bit magazine in North America. The October 1984 issue includes:

Features

• A No-Frills Alternate Cursor
• Climber
• Minicomp
• P/M Creator/Animator
• Fire Bug
• Another BASIC Bug
• Graphics 8 Character Generator
• Dark Horse

Reviews

• Casadapter (Sar-An)
• Family Finances (Atari)
• TOP-DOS (Eclipse Software)
• Donkey Kong Junior (Atari)
• ATR-8000 (Southwest Microcomputer)
• Dr. Wacko's Guide to Your Atari (Addison-Wesley)

Columns

• Editorial
• Reader Comment
• Griffin's Lair
• New Products
• Ask Mr. Forth
• C:CHECK/D:CHECK
• Boot Camp
• Control Characters
• BASIC Training
• Index to Advertisers

...and more!

Antic (July 1983)

Antic (July 1983)





Antic, subtitled "The Atari Resource", was one of the two most popular magazines to primarily cover Atari 8-bit computers in the U.S. (the other being ANALOG). The July 1983 issue would have been published a few months before the XL line of computers was widely available. It includes: Features

• 400 Upgrade - Keyed up and RAMing to go
• Adventuring - Participate in fantasy
• Unfazed by the Fazer - Data buffer speeds printing
• Conserve RAM - With BASIC's USR function
• Talk is Cheap - Voice I/O for the Atari
• Antic Pix Adventure - Seven adventure games

Departments

• Profiles - Scott Adams
• Starting Line - I/O and You
• Inside Atari - E.T. Game for Computers - XL Line Debuts
• Pilot Your Atari - Lines Away!
• Systems Guide - List Assister
• Dragonsmoke - Nice Dice
• Education - Shoot 'Em Up Math
• In the Public Domain - Stunt Clown
• Games Department - Star Raiders Academy - Pacman - Dial-A-Game
• Tape Topics - Ten Ten
• Forth Factory - Why Go Forth
• Assembly Language - Hokey Pokey Interrupts

• I/O Board
• Help!
• New Products
• Microscreens
• Product Reviews
• Atari Clinic
• Computer Quiz
• Looking At Books
• Goto Directory
• Public Domain Software
• Listing Conventions
• Advertisers' List

...and more!

Compute! (September 1984)

Compute! (September 1984)

Compute! was the best of the early multi-format computer magazines. In 1984 it was covering a variety of 8-bit computers such as the VIC-20, Commodore 64, Atari 8-bit, TI-9/4A plus the PC (mostly the PC and PC Jr.). The September 1984 issue includes: Features

• The Educational Software Explosion
• The Latest in Learning: New Trends in Educational Computing
• Choosing The Best Educational Software

Education and Recreation

• The Tester
• Missile Math
• Lightsaver

Reviews

• Exodus: Ultima III For Commodore 64
• The Seven Cities Of Gold
• Word Flyer

Columns And Departments

• The Editor's Notes
• Readers' Feedback
• Computers And Society: Discovery-Based Learning And Teenagers
• Questions Beginners Ask
• The Beginner's Page: ROM And RAM
• The World Inside The Computer: Build A Computer In Your Mind
• Learning With Computers: Aids For The Blind
• INSIGHT: Atari
• Machine Language: Math And Tables
• Programming The TI: Writing An Educational Program
• 64 Explorer

The Journal

• Lightning Sort
• Atari Bubble And Bulldozer Sorting
• Commodore Autoboot
• Atari Paddle Fixer
• Apple Editing Hints
• Commodore Disk Pattern Matching, Part 1
• SYSound
• Musical TI Keyboard

...and more!

Antic (February 1984)

Antic (February 1984)

Antic was one of the two big magazines in the U.S. that covered the Atari 8-bit computer line. In early 1984, the Atari 600XL and 800XL were just becoming widely available though they had technically been available, at least in limited quantities, since the Fall of 1983. The February 1984 issue of Antic includes: Features

• A Greeting Card For All Seasons - Say it on cassette
• Follow That Stock - A spreadsheet for your stock portfolio.
• Money Matters - Atari reckons with personal finance
• Typo - Type your program once
• Atari At War - The wild world of conflict simulation
• Fast Finger - Autoboot with a ghost at the keyboard
• Phone Book - Simulate string arrays in Atari BASIC
• Character Graphics - Redefine the set any way you choose

Departments

• Inside Atari - It's Official
• Starting Line - A Cinderella Story
• Education - The End Of Odd Man
• LOGO/Pilot - LOGO Books
• In The Public Domain - The Gauntlet - **Bonus Game** Galactic Gloop
• Tape Topics - The 410 HI-REL Mod
• Systems Guide - Nightmare Detour
• Assembly Language - DRAWTO FILL

• I/O Board
• Help!
• Public Domain Software
• New Products
• Product Reviews
• Advertisers List
• Listing Conventions
• Shopper's Guide
• Microscreens

...and more!

Antic (June 1984)

Antic (June 1984)

Antic: The Atari Resource was probably the 2nd most popular magazine for Atari 8-bit computers. It its later years it shifted more focus onto the Atari ST though. The June 1984 issue, which was still a while before the 16-bit ST was introduced, includes: Features

• Anatomy of an Atari 800XL - Inside the belly of the beast
• Exploring the XL - One programmer's perspective
• Scroll Your Way to the Top - A short course on coarse scrolling
• Use BASIC to Animate - An easier way to program your own games
• Color Finetuner - Adjust your colors to a "T"
• Antic Pix Furniture - Computing in comfort

Departments

• Inside Atari: Evolution of the XL Computers
• Education: Alphabet Music
• Languages: Talk to your Robot
• Profiles: Activision's James Levy
• Toolbox: BASIC - A Variable Approach
• Game of the Month: Escape From Epsilon
• Assembly Language: Shortcuts to Success

• I/O Board
• Help!
• Public Domain Software
• New Products
• Product Reviews
• Advertisers List
• Listing Conventions
• Shopper's Guide

Synapse (Atari 8-bit)

Synapse (Atari 8-bit)

There can be no doubt that the early 1980s were the golden age for games on the Atari 8-bit computers. The Commodore 64 was rapidly surpassing Atari by this point but Atari was still going strong though it wouldn't be for much longer. Synapse made a ton of great games for the Atari 8-bit and other 8-bit computers. This ad from the June 1984 issue of Antic highlights several of them. Encounter

Alone on a distant planet, you stumble into a futuristic 8-level tank battlefield that really plays for keeps! Watch out for the deadly drones and sneaky saucers.

This one was sort of a clone of Battlezone, the vector based arcade game. Dimension X

Test yourself with incredible 3-D action that never stops! An alien invasion fleet has the capital city surrounded, and it's up to you to stop the destruction! Good luck - you'll need it.

This one tries to be a slightly more advanced version of something like Battlezone or Encounter but at the end of the day, the game play wasn't as good with this game. Zeppelin

First the prison break, but that's only the beginning! The underground world of Zarkafir is full of surprises, from the lethal energy fields to devastating earthquakes. Can you defeat the Timelords?

This was a side-scrolling shooter of sorts that takes place in underground caverns. A funny place for a zeppelin perhaps but this was a really good game and large for its time with 250 rooms to blast your way through. Uniquely, up to four players could play with the extra players controlling various guns on the zeppelin that player 1 was flying. Other titles listed include Blue Max, Fort Apocalypse, Shamus and Shamus Case II, Necromancer, Pharoah's Curse, and Quasimodo. I played most of these and they were all excellent games though I played them on the Commodore 64 and not the Atari 8-bit. While Synapse had the occasional mediocre game, the average quality was quite high. It's a shame they went out of business so early (later in 1984) in part because they were ripped off by Jack Tramiel who refused to pay them for software they shipped for Atari. To make matters worse they made a decision to start emphasizing text adventures which started fading in popularity around the same time.

Compute! (August 1981)

Compute! (August 1981)

If you happened to be a computer owner in 1981 then Compute! would have definitely been a magazine that you would have wanted to subscribe to. The magazine lasted for more than a decade and in these early days it was exclusively covering 8-bit computers based on the 6502 processor. There were more of these than you might think. The August 1981 issue includes:

• The Editor's Notes
• Ask The Readers
• Computers And Society: Some Speculations On The Well-Played Game, Part II
• The Beginner's Page
• Basically Useful Basic: Checking Randomness Of Random Number Generators
• Trenton: The Original Computer Festival
• Basic Oneliners: Minimize Code And Maximize Speed
• Computer Assisted Instruction - Worth The Effort?
• Wolves, Caribou, And Other Problems
• Add A Programmable Sound Generator
• The Carry Bit - What It Is And How It Works
• The Floating-Point Division Routine
• Practical Aspects Of Assembly Language: Part II


• The Apple Gazette
• Apple Disk Motor Control
• Interfacing The Apple To 6500 Family Peripherals
• A Cassette Tape Monitor For The Apple
• Diskette Sector Space In A Greeting Program


• The Atari Gazette
• Restoring And Updating Data On The Atari
• Easy Reading Of The Atari Joystick
• Poem Writer
• Supercube Update
• Atari Sound Utility
• Blockade For The Atari
• Define A Line On The Atari


• The OSI Gazette
• The OSI RS232 Port And The High Speed Printer Interface


• The Pet Gazette
• The CBM "Fat 40" - Boon Or Bane?
• Digital Arrayment
• Keyword
• CBM/PET Loading, Chaining And Overlaying
• Converting Pet Basic Programs To ASCII Files


• The Single Board Computer Gazette
• The Single Board 6502
• Nuts And Volts: Build Your Own Controllers Part II


• New Products
• Advertiser's Index

...and more!

S.A.M. (Atari 400/800, Apple II/II )

Speech synthesis seemed to be all the rage in the early to mid 1980s. S.A.M. is one of a variety of speech synthesis products available during that time. S.A.M. is short for Software Automatic Mouth (I can see why they abbreviated it) and was available for the Atari 400/800 and Apple II/II+. This was a product primarily designed to incorporate speech into your own programs.

Advertised as "cheap", I suppose that's a matter of opinion. The Atari version was priced fairly typically for the time at $49.95. However, the Apple II version required additional hardware and cost $124.95. Not really cheap in my opinion, especially for the time. The Atari sound chip was sophisticated enough not to require additional hardware for speech synthesis of acceptable quality at the time. Despite the limitations (iffy speech quality and having to blank the screen for maximum quality among others), these products were fairly popular and S.A.M. was one of the better known products of its type.

The whole talking computer thing never really appealed to me that much (though we have it now more or less with products like Alexa). I guess after the movie Wargames, everyone wanted a talking computer...or something.

This ad is from the March 1983 issue of inCider.

Voice Box II (Atari 400/800)

Source: ROM: The Magazine That Brings The Atari Computer To Life! - Vol. 1, Issue 3

It seem that in the 1980s everyone thought that talking computers were the wave of the future. Voice synthesizers were available for just about every platform. It was even in popular movies like Wargames (though its odd how the voice followed Matthew Broderick around to other locations). Of course, the sci-fi idea of talking computers started much earlier. HAL from 2001: A Space Odyssey comes to mind.

I had a Commodore 64 and it was capable of some rudimentary voice synthesis without any special devices but it could of course be improved upon with specialized hardware. The device mentioned in this ad from ROM magazine, the Voice Box II, is for the Atari 8-bit line of computers. Advertised features include singing and The Singing Human Face. I mean who wouldn't want to incorporate The Singing Human Face into all your programs?

In the early home computer era, voice synthesis never became much more than a novelty. But while computers that talk back never really caught on as an every day sort of thing, the idea lives on today in cloud based services like Alexa, Siri, etc. There have also been screen reader programs and various accessibility options that include speech for quite a while now. It won't be long before HAL is refusing to obey your commands.

Antic (December 1985)

Source: Antic - December 1985

Antic was one of two popular magazines in the U.S. dedicated to the Atari 8-bit line of computers (the other being ANALOG). Antic also had some coverage of the Atari ST at various times. The December 1985 issue includes the following:

Features

• Video Star Atari - This article covers software and hardware to digitize images from video cameras or other anaglog sources. The emphasis is on Computereyes though other products are mentioned.

• Behind the Scenes at Lucasfilm - Antic goes behind the scenes at Lucasfilm Games to, among other things, get previews of The Eidolon and Koronis Rift.

• DiskIO Plus - A type-in utility program that provides keyboard shortcuts for almost all DOS functions and works with most software.

• 4th Annual Shoppers Guide - A holiday shopping guide for those interested in Atari hardare and software. Products include the Atari 130XE, Atari 800XL, Atari 520ST, Atari 1050 disk drive, Indus GT disk drive, various printers, the Commodore 1702 monitor, Atari 850 interface module (mostly for printers), Atari 1030 modem, Ballblazer, Rescue on Fractalus, M.U.L.E., Spy vs. Spy, Great Cross Country Road Race, F-15 Strike Eagle, Wiztype, Halley Patrol, Homepak, BBS Construction Set, BASIC XE, Mac/65 Assembler Editor, Paper Clip, and much more.

• Proburner Review - Antic calls this EPROM burner from Thompson Electronics the best one on the market.

• Antic Catalog Goes to U.K. - Antic makes the magazine and their catalog of softare available to U.K. users.

ST Section

• 1st Annual ST Shoppers Guide - Another holiday shopping guide, this one specific to the Atari ST. Items listed include the Atari CD-ROM drive, SF354 Single-side disk drive, SF314 Double-sided disk drive, the SM124 Monochrome Monitor, the SC1224 RGB Color Monitor, 4xForth Programming Language, Easy-Draw, VIP Professional, Chat (terminal program), A Mind Forever Voyaging, and much more.

• 4XForth Review - A review of this FORTH programming language implementation for the Atari ST.

• Introducing 520ST Assembly Language - Primarily this means 68000 assembly language. I never programmed much in assembly but I did do a little 68000 assembly in college.

• ST Logo Exploration - Logo was the only programming language initially included with the Atari ST. This type-in program and tutorial hepls you to map memory.

Departments

• BBS Crashbuster - This type-in program helps to prevent BBS crashes by stripping out non-standard ATASCII characters from input strings. In other words, it prevents users from crashing your BBS with bad input.

• Build Your Own EPROM Burner - Parts list and instructions for buildin an EPROM burner for $30.

• Box-In - In this type-in strategy/arcade game, you must move boxes around to trap the monster before he gets you.

• I/O Board - Letters from readers about Atari 800 problems, BBS lists, Trip Hawkins and Atari, Blue Max and the 130XE, Print Shop, and more.

• Help - Help with downloading large files with ProTerm, Supra contact info, and a correction for ST Sound, a previous type-in program for the Atari ST.

• Antic Online - Not on the web but on Compuserve.

...and more!

Ahoy! (August 1984)

Ahoy! was one of several dedicated to Commodore computers in the 1980s. In 1984, the Commodore 64 was very popular and the VIC-20 was still hanging on.

The August 1984 issue of Ahoy! (issue number 8) included the following:

Departments

• A View from the Bridge - An overview of the contents of this issue.

• Scuttlebutt - News about the continuing management exodus at Commodore that started with Jack Tramiel in January; new Commodore compatible Sakata SC-100 monitor; new graphics programs including Flying Colors and Flexidraw 3.0; new word processors including Word Writer, Wordsmith 64, Quickwriter II and C64 Type Right; new education programs including Square pairs, Turtle Tracks, Bannercatch, Spelldiver, and more; new games including Spy vs. Spy (C64), Hot Wheels (C64), G.I. Joe (C64), Barbie (C64), Ankh (C64), Jet Boot Jack (C64), Mychess II (C64), Polar Pierre (C64), Video Vermin (VIC-20), Forbidden Forest (C64), Caverns of Khafka (C64), Aztec Challenge (C64, VIC-20), Spider Invasion (C64, VIC-20), and Slinky (C64, VIC-20); new "science simulations" including Project: Space Station (C64), Life Force (C64), Ocean Quest (C64), Cel Defense (C64), Reflections (C64), and Calmpute (C64); new Okidata Okimate 10 printer; and more.

• Reviews
  • Paint Magic - A paint program for the C64.
  • Pitstop - Classic racing game for the C64 kind of like Pole Position but expanded with pit stops and more.
  • The Heist - A game in which the object is to steal all the objects from a museum. Looks like it plays like a cross between Impossible Mission and Pitfall.
  • Math SAT I - Designed to prepare students for the math portion of the SAT.
  • Word Processor, Professional Version - Word processor with a rather generic name.
  • Ultrabasic 64 - An enhanced BASIC for the Commodore 64.
  • CIE IEEE-488 Interface - An IEEE-488 interface for the C64. Useful for interfacing certain disk drives and other things.
  • Edumate Light Pen - Once upon a time, light pens were all the rage.
  • Commander Ultra Terminal-64 - A cartridge based terminal program designed to work with a VIC Modem.
  • Rootin' Tootin' - A musical instrument themed arcade game.
  • C232 RS-232 Interface - An RS-232 interface for the Commodore 64. Useful for connecting modems and printers.
  • Synthy-64 - A program to simplify music creation on the C64.
  • Cohen's Towers - An arcade style game in which you must collect mail in an office building.

• Commodares - Small programming challenges to find a certain character on the screen, calculate letter frequency and more.

• Flotsam - Letters from readers about BBSes run on Commodores, type-in programs, and more.

Features

• Editorial - Buying technology (specifically computers) in a swiftly moving market.

• In Search of a Word Processor - An overview and comparison of the various word processors on the market at the time for the Commodore 64. Software covered includes 3+1, The Bank Street Writer, Better Letter & Writer, Biztext 1.1, Circascript, Copy-Writer, C64 Type-Write, Cut and Paste, Heswriter, Homeword, Insta Writer, Janewrite, Magic Desk, Omniwriter, Paper Clip, Script 64-PCS, Script 64-Richvale, SM-Text 64, SuperText, Textmaster, Totl Text 2.6, Word Commander 64, Wordcraft 40, WordManager, Wordpro 3 Plus/64, Word Processor (Professional), The Word Processor-PCS, WordProcessor 64, Wordsmith, Write Now!, and The Writer's Assistant.

• Rupert Report: Computational Wizardry - Calculating Mersenne prime numbers with a Cray-1 and determining the mega-flop rating of a Commodore 64. In BASIC it is about 184 flops or 0.0002 mega-flops. Not quite up to Cray-1 standards but then a Commodore 64 cost about $15 million less at the time.

• Unraveling the Mysteries of Sound - A look at how sound works with the SID chip on the Commodore 64.

• Educational Software Guide, Part VI - This part talks about the characteristics of good educational software as well as the social effects of computer usage for education.

Programs

• Micro-Minder - A type-in calendar program for the C64.

• Creating Your Own Games: Words Worth - An article from Orson Scott Card on creating quality games, focusing on the Commodore 64 and VIC-20.

• Directory Assistance - A type-in program for generating hard copies of directory listings on the Commodore 64 and VIC-20.

• The Terrible Twins - A type-in kids game that involves timing and pattern matching.

• Bug Repellent - A type-in game for both the Commodore 64 and VIC-20.

...and more!